CANINE UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION UPDATE: Since there are so many pet owners on this site, I thought it would be good to share with everyone the updated information that I am sending to our clients at Nana-n-Paws. As many of you know, there is a canine upper respiratory infection wreaking havoc nationwide and hitting Michigan hard. Although cultures are not typically done because the standard protocol is simply to administer antibiotics and/or cough medicine, I asked Dr. Stallings at Housecalls to do some cultures on dogs coming in with this condition so that we know exactly what we are dealing with. The results are in, and it was determined that this is not Bordetella but rather it is parainfluenza (a cold like virus), with a bacterial component. Most (but not all) combination distember / parvo shots vaccinate against parinfluenza, however, this is a new strain not covered by the current vaccinations. The fact that it is both a virus and a bacteria makes it a bit more challenging. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, which we vaccinate for, but are effective in treating bacterial infections. On the other hand, you cannot vaccinate against a bacteria. So, the combination of these two strains has made this highly contagious and a challenge to eliminate. Adding to the challenge is the incubation period. A dog can be infected and contagious for 3-10 days without symptoms, and since it is a new strain, current vaccinations are ineffective in preventing it. However, having been vaccinated will lessen the severity and duration of the illness. One of the keys in preventing the spread of this illness is education of pet owners. If your dog is coughing, please do NOT take them out in public. Dogs are constantly seen walking around in pet stores and dog parks coughing all over the place. Please keep in mind that this is an airborne illness, so if your dog is coughing and he/she coughs, sniffs the ground, picks up or sniffs toys at the store, etc. he/she will pass this along to other dogs in the area who breathe the same air or come in contact with the same grass, toys etc. They can even contract this illness upon entering the vets office if an infected dog was in there or in your own back yard if an infected dog (coyotes included) has been in the area. Kennel cough is an old term that originated when dogs only came in contact with other dogs at kennels, but times have changed and now we have dog shows, dog parks, pet supply stores etc. and are much more social with our pets. It is more correctly called canine cough and is primarily just like a cold or flu in people. Where the cold/flu season for humans is during the winter months, the cold/flu season for dogs is in the spring and summer when they are outside more frequently. The cough sounds like a honking, backward sneeze and/or like they are trying to cough up something. It usually subsides in 5-10 days and it is normal for some mucus to be coughed up. The concern is if your dog develops a fever, is coughing up green or dark yellow mucus or has any discharge coming from their eyes or nose. That is an indication that a secondary infection has set in and they will need to be on antibiotics to avoid pneumonia and/or bronchitis. Elderly dogs, puppies and dogs with compromised immune systems are most at risk for secondary infections and should see the vet immediately. Warm steam heat vaporizers are helpful in clearing their lungs, and a honey/lemon combination helps with the coughing. Some people give childrens Mucinex DM or Robitussin DM, but I do not recommend giving your dog any human medication without first consulting your veterinarian. It is important that your dog stay hydrated. Adding some unflavored Pedialyte to their water helps replenish their electrolytes, and adding a little chicken broth will help get them to drink if they are not interested in doing so. The strength of your dogs immune system plays an important factor in whether or not your dog will get sick and how quickly they will recover if they do. I recommend an immune builder, which can be purchased at the local pet supply store. Just like when your kids are sick, get plenty of rest and fluids Finally, canine parainfluenza is a completely different strain than human influenza, and according to the ASPCA, Center for Disease Control and several virologists, bacteriologists and microbiologists, there has never been one single reported case of humans contracting canine influenza.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:54:59 +0000
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